Deuteronomy 16 9

Deuteronomy 16:9 kjv

Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn.

Deuteronomy 16:9 nkjv

"You shall count seven weeks for yourself; begin to count the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the grain.

Deuteronomy 16:9 niv

Count off seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain.

Deuteronomy 16:9 esv

"You shall count seven weeks. Begin to count the seven weeks from the time the sickle is first put to the standing grain.

Deuteronomy 16:9 nlt

"Count off seven weeks from when you first begin to cut the grain at the time of harvest.

Deuteronomy 16 verses

Deuteronomy 16 9 Meaning

Deuteronomy 16:9 commands the Israelites to meticulously count seven full weeks, or 49 days, for themselves. This count is to commence precisely from the moment they first begin the harvest, specifically when they put the sickle to the standing grain in the field. This precise timing ensures that the subsequent Feast of Weeks (Shavuot/Pentecost) is observed on its designated day, directly linking God's commanded religious observances to the tangible reality of the agricultural calendar and His provision.

Deuteronomy 16 9 Context

Deuteronomy 16 falls within a section where Moses reiterates and expands upon various laws and regulations previously given at Mount Sinai, preparing the Israelites for life in the Promised Land. The chapter specifically details the observance of Israel's three annual pilgrimage festivals: Passover (vv. 1-8), the Feast of Weeks (vv. 9-12), and the Feast of Tabernacles (vv. 13-17). These feasts require all males to present themselves before the Lord at a central sanctuary (after its establishment). Verse 9 provides the precise agricultural benchmark for calculating the start of the seven-week counting period leading up to the Feast of Weeks, thereby grounding this sacred observance directly in their seasonal livelihood.

Deuteronomy 16 9 Word analysis

• You shall count (תִּסְפֶּר־לְךָ - tisper-lĕkhā):
  • From the Hebrew root sapar (סָפַר), meaning "to count, number, reckon." It can also mean "to tell" or "to declare."
  • The imperative-like verb ("you shall count") conveys a direct command and obligation, placing personal responsibility upon each Israelite or household head to actively participate in this observance.
  • "For yourself" (lĕkhā) emphasizes that this is not just a general directive but a personal spiritual discipline and act of obedience, contributing to their communal well-being and relationship with God.
• seven weeks (שִׁבְעָה שָׁבֻעֹת - shiv‘ah shāvu‘ot):
  • Shiv‘ah means "seven." Shāvu‘ot (plural of shāvu‘a) literally means "sevens" or "periods of seven." This term gives the festival its Hebrew name, Shavuot.
  • The number seven frequently denotes completion, perfection, and sacred cycles in the Bible. Counting seven such cycles (7x7=49 days) prepares for the fiftieth day.
  • This "count of fifty" is why the festival is known in Greek as "Pentecost" (πεντηκοστή), meaning "fiftieth."
• begin to count (הָחֵל לִסְפֹּר - haḥēl lispor):
  • Haḥēl comes from the root ḥalal (חָלַל), meaning "to begin" or "to profane." Here, the context dictates "to begin."
  • This phrase unequivocally marks the commencement point of the counting period. Its precision highlights the importance of correct timing for religious observance.
  • "Lispor" is the infinitive form of "to count."
• from the time you begin to put the sickle (מֵהָחֵל חֶרְמֵשׁ - mehachēl ḥermeash):
  • Mehachēl is "from beginning." Ḥermeash (חֶרְמֵשׁ) is the Hebrew word for "sickle," the handheld tool used for reaping grain.
  • This agricultural detail grounds the start of the spiritual counting in the real, tangible rhythm of daily life and labor. It's not based on an arbitrary calendar date but on a specific, observable agricultural act.
• to the standing grain (בַּקָּמָה - baqāmāh):
  • Baqāmāh literally means "in/at the standing grain." Qāmāh (קָמָה) refers to the standing stalks of grain still in the field.
  • This indicates the very first moment of harvest – not when the grain is threshed, stored, or processed, but when it is still in its natural state, ready for reaping. It traditionally points to the beginning of the barley harvest, from which the 'omer' (firstfruits sheaf) would be taken.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "You shall count seven weeks for yourself": This phrase establishes the command, the duration (7 weeks = 49 days), and the personal accountability involved in this significant period leading to Shavuot. It underscores a continuous, vigilant counting.
• "begin to count the seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain": This specific directive fixes the start of the counting. It removes ambiguity, tying a precise religious observance directly to a physical, agricultural marker – the very first act of harvesting the ripe grain. This connection reveals God's meticulous ordering of both natural cycles and spiritual life, indicating that worship and daily sustenance are interwoven by His design.

Deuteronomy 16 9 Bonus section

• The linking of agricultural harvest to spiritual feasting reminds believers that God provides both physical sustenance and spiritual nourishment, intertwining daily life with worship.
• The meticulous counting symbolizes diligent obedience and waiting upon the Lord. This precise marking of time illustrates that God has specific "appointed times" (mo'edim) for encountering Him, and Israel was responsible for discerning and observing them faithfully.
• This instruction also prefigured Christ as the "firstfruits" (1 Cor 15:20) of those resurrected, corresponding to the barley harvest which initiates the count, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2) as the ultimate "harvest" of souls and spiritual gifts that arrived with the new covenant, marking the consummation of the "seven weeks."

Deuteronomy 16 9 Commentary

Deuteronomy 16:9 provides the foundational instruction for observing the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot or Pentecost), ensuring its precise calculation within the Israelite calendar. The command to "count seven weeks" reflects the significance of the 49-day period (the 'Counting of the Omer' in Jewish tradition), which begins with the barley harvest and culminates with the celebration of the wheat harvest. This link to agricultural life emphasizes God's providence and ownership of the land's bounty, reinforcing that every blessing stems from Him.

The explicit instruction to begin counting "from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain" removes any doubt regarding the starting point, historically clarifying interpretations (e.g., against Sadducean views that held the count should start on the day after the weekly Sabbath within Passover week). It roots the divine command firmly in observable reality. This anticipation, counting off the days, instills a sense of growing readiness and expectation, drawing the Israelites from the remembrance of Passover's liberation to the joyous thanksgiving of the new harvest. Spiritually, this period of counting symbolically connects Israel's exodus from Egypt to the giving of the Law at Sinai on the 50th day, solidifying their identity as God's chosen nation. Furthermore, it foreshadows the New Testament outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, demonstrating God's consistent plan for spiritual "harvest" and empowerment for His people across covenant dispensations.